Oregon Tops Stanford to Claim First MPSF Tournament Title

STANFORD, Calif.- The magical season for the University of Oregon lacrosse team keeps on getting better as they claimed the program's first Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament title over Stanford, 13-10, on Sunday at Cagan Field in Stanford, Calif.

With the victory, the Ducks will host a NCAA Tournament play-in match against the winner from the Patriot League, Navy, on Saturday (May 5) at 1:00 p.m.

Stanford was the winner of seven straight MPSF Tournament titles before running into the Ducks on Sunday. Oregon is now the third team to win a MPSF Tournament title. California won the first tournament in 2004 and the Cardinal has won the rest.

UO has now defeated Stanford twice in one season for the first time in program history.

The Cardinal got on the board first after a turnover by Erika McCool allowed Elizabeth Adam to scoop up a groundball and the Cardinal was able to notch the goal after Emily Newstrom found Carolyn Bradley.

Stanford's Rachel Hinds attempted to record another goal for the Cardinal, but sophomore goalkeeper Caroline Federighi saved the shot.

The Ducks only needed eight seconds to rush down the field and have sophomore Shannon Propst tie up the match, 1-1.

Oregon received back-to-back goals on their next possessions from Nikki Puszcz and Sami Kiser to give UO a 3-1 lead.

The teams traded goals before the Ducks scored four straight goals to carry an 8-3 lead into halftime.

The Cardinal came out of the half and tallied three consecutive goals before sophomore Hayley Milner scored off a dish from senior Jana Drummond to stop the run.

On UO's next trip down the field, the scoring drive was reversed as Milner from credited with an assist off a Ja. Drummond goal, giving Oregon a 10-6 lead at the 18:52 mark, prompting the Cardinal to signal for a timeout.

Stanford got themselves within two once again with a little over 13 minutes to play, but Hinds checked Propst, setting up a free position shot that Propst converted for an Oregon goal.

The Cardinal's Emilie Boeri chopped the lead back down to a two-goal advantage, 11-9, but Oregon recorded two out of the last three goals of the match to wrap up the monumental 13-10 victory.

The Ducks were led offensive behind three goals from Puszcz and two each from Milner, Je. Drummond and Propst. Ja. Drummond recorded two points from two assists.

Anna Kim had three goals to lead the Cardinal.

In net, Lyndsey Munoz (8-10) was charged with the loss.

Federighi picked up the victory as she notched nine saves and moved her overall record to 14-3.